My real name is Artur Rosa. I’m 44, married, one son of 14. I
was born and live in Portugal, in a small town by the sea. I have a
university degree in Electronics and Telecommunications and I work
as an IT manager in a branch of a multinational corporation.
Computer graphics is only a hobby for me, one that I started in
late 2006. Before that, I knew absolutely nothing about the
topic.

Why the name Rutra? Well, as you have guessed, Rutra is Artur
spelled backwards. I thought it would be very appropriate because
my “art world” is the absolute opposite of my “real world.”
In my “art world” I let my mind wander freely, whereas in my
“real world” I must have my mind firmly attached to my
shoulders. Basically, emotion versus rationality, Rutra versus
Artur.

How long have you been working with computer
graphics?

I started playing with computer graphics for the first time in
late 2006. I tried Bryce for some time and demos of several other
apps. Then I found Vue and it was love at first sight.

Southern Light

Do you have any traditional art experience?

I have no formal education in art theory. My only experience in
a more traditional art technique, if I can call it like that, was
between 1983 and 1986, when I made a few dozen images using pencil
on paper. I even participated in a collective exhibition at the
time, with some other colleagues from the university. It was a
great experience.

What are you currently working on?

I always have dozens of unfinished images and I typically work
on several simultaneously. Whenever I get bored of one, I leave it
as it is and jump to another. I keep jumping from one to the next,
sometimes in circles, until eventually I get hooked by one of them
and then I relentlessly chase it until the end, sometimes losing
one or another night's sleep in the process. This leaves my
computer hard drive with dozens of unfinished images which I
frequently pick again at a later time.

So, to answer to your question, I’d have to give you a list of
about 100 images!

My Kingdom

What software/equipment do you use and why?

The centre of my “art world” is Vue. Everything else just
revolves around it. I use GeoControl2 intensively, which I
think is a must-have companion for Vue. I use a few other software
packages that simply complement this partnership, like
SketchUp or Poser, among others.

I have two computers, one for general purpose (a dual core XP
with 4GB) and one for Vue (a quadcore Vista 64 with 8GB).

What is it that you like best about Vue?

Vue is kind of the gate to my mind. I love to create worlds that
do not exist and I love to do it in a way that they appear
believable. Vue allows me to do just that because it’s a very
powerful application which is easy to handle at the same time. Vue
has a very comprehensive set of tools and settings that allow me to
explore that thin line between real, unreal or surreal. I don’t
always achieve that delicate balance, but when I do, it’s Vue
magic.

The Other Side

What do you think your best piece of work is and
why?

I have two favorite images: “The Other Side” and “The Secret Cove.” Those images are part of a
(yet unfinished) series, which is very dear to me. Why?... Because
these images bring me the joy of the innocent discovery, the thrill
of the simple mysteries, the beauty of simplicity and innocence.
Most of this is lost as you leave childhood and so I tried to
capture a little bit of it in this series.

Who, or what, inspires you, and how do you get your
ideas?

When I first started playing with CG, there were several artists
who really inspired me and filled me with desire to improve my
technical and artistic skills to create similar images. Two of the
most influential for me were Scott Anderson (aka Sacada) and Andy Simmons (aka Hobbit) but others like Gary Miller (aka garyandcatherine) and Tablesaw were also a great inspiration.

Anything can give me the idea for a new image. Sometimes it’s
a random sentence I hear, sometimes it’s a concept that just pops
up or a photo that triggers a thought that triggers an image. For
example, my image “Sky is the Limit” came to my mind in a flash
when I heard someone saying that sentence. That’s the best moment
in the creation process, when an image appears in my mind.
Sometimes the image doesn’t come complete and/or appears just
very briefly. I feel something is there, I close my eyes and build
the rest of the image in my mind. That’s the best moment. If only
I could hook Vue directly to my brain

The Secret Cove

How has this online community (Renderosity) enhanced
your work, relationships, and learning?

All of the artists I mentioned before, I found in Renderosity.
That was the first great contribution from this community, to allow
me to find in one single place all kinds of images and artists.
Then, as I posted images in the galleries here, I learned a lot by
reading the comments from other people, with their opinions on how
I could improve my work. Thank you all for that!

The Vue Forum here is also very useful as there are
a significant number of experts there who are always willing to
share their knowledge.

Do you have any parting comments, or advice for other
artists?

With the tools available nowadays it’s very easy, with a few
clicks and in a few minutes, to obtain an image that seems
finished. My advice is: don’t be too early satisfied with what
you achieve. Always aim for better. Better quality, better realism
or better of whatever it is you’re after, but always aim for
better.

All supporting images are
copyright, and cannot be
copied, printed, or reproduced in any manner without written
permission from the artist.

Artist of the Month is highlighting a
talented Renderosity artist that has been nominated by mods and
admins, and voted by the community. Recognition is given to this
member for their collection of works for that year.

Since we only select one AOM per month,
it is not about their works for that particular month. Instead, it
is about highlighting a talented artist's works for that year, and
they are recognized during that month.

To learn more about Renderosity's Artist Of The Month [AOM]
award, and to view our past AOM's, please visit the AOM page,
which can also be found on the sidebar under Highlights.

Create your masterpieces with products from the Renderosity
MarketPlace

I find the realism in your work to be arresting and thought provoking. Congrats on the recognition and on your continued evolution with the tools and software you create with. I enjoyed your gallery very much.

Jucce ()
posted at 4:18AM Wed, 04 November 2009

Congratulations!

faroutsider ()
posted at 5:54AM Wed, 04 November 2009

Congratulations! Your Vue work is outstanding, and truly inspirational. Keep it up - you now have a very well deserved reputation to maintain... :o)

SusiQ ()
posted at 6:25AM Wed, 04 November 2009

Congratulations! I spent an enjoyable time going through the beautiful works in your gallery. You are really talented!

capelito ()
posted at 8:12AM Wed, 04 November 2009

Congrats! I like your works and I am very happy to see that you are AOM.

kanzler ()
posted at 2:36PM Thu, 05 November 2009

Congratulations! Keep on your good work!

whitemagus ()
posted at 3:51AM Fri, 06 November 2009

I didn't know you before but great images!

DOM1 ()
posted at 12:41AM Sun, 08 November 2009

Very deserving. Keep up the good work.

lyron ()
posted at 10:53AM Sun, 08 November 2009

Congratulations!!

alltheoriginalnames ()
posted at 9:20PM Mon, 09 November 2009

Congratulations on a very well deserved AOTM. Really dig your work man.

npauling ()
posted at 6:14PM Tue, 10 November 2009

Congratulations on AOM, your work is wonderful with great care taken with the details.